Alleged Athens dealer arrested after found asleep in car containing stolen gun, variety of drugs

Dewey Torrell Kelley Jr.

By Joe Johnson

An alleged drug dealer was arrested this week after he was found sleeping in a car at an apartment complex, with a stolen gun beside him and various illegal drugs in the car, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.

An officer was patrolling Rolling Ridge Apartments at about 4:50 a.m. when he saw a car parked diagonally across several parking spaces, with the vehicle’s occupant, 31-year-old Dewey Torrell Kelley Jr. of Garnett Ridge Drive, was asleep in the driver’s seat, according to the report.

The officer reportedly saw through the car's windows that there were several plastic bags inside.

After failing to rouse Kelley by knocking on a window, the officer opened the door to see if the man needed medical attention, according to the report.

Kelley woke up confused when shook by the officer, who saw a handgun in between the driver’s seat and center console, the report noted.

The officer then assisted the man from the car and placed him in handcuffs before other officers arrived to conduct a search of the car, according to the report.

The report noted that the search found the following items: oxycodone pills; $97 cash; a Smith & Wesson pistol that that had been reported as stolen in Jackson County; about five grams of heroin; a small bag of crystal meth; a bottle of Tramadol pills; less than an ounce of marijuana; more heroin in Kelly’s wallet; a bottle of hydrocodone pills; drug packaging material; a digital scale; drug paraphernalia; and an unknown quantity of counterfeit currency.

According to the police report, Kelley was not supposed to possess firearms due to an aggravated assault conviction in 2015.

Kelley was charged with trafficking illegal drugs, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, cocaine and controlled substances, possession of prescription drugs not in the original container, sale and possession of dangerous drugs, possession and use of drug-related objects, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and theft by receiving stolen property.

Kelley was being held at the county jail without bail being set as of Thursday afternoon.